Helpful Score: 6
Based on things that I had heard, I went into reading this book with the idea that it was going to be a madcap comedy of sorts. While that notion was incorrect, this story does have it's deliciously funny moments. But more than that, this author has a flair for period settings and strong, believable dialogue that make this an unforgettable story.
Likening this author to Alice Walker and Faulkner is next to blashphemous...in my opinion. The story lacks continuity, character development and falls short of the promises in the reviews and covers. Story line perpetuates a negative stereotype of African Americans of the most damaging,yet persistent sort. Save your time and money.
The story flows ok, the main character is somewhat interesting and her story has been told a thousand times before. Seduced by empty promisses, Pregnant, and no husband...
There are some interesting parts to the second half of the book, but over all, the book is sluggish with unecessay dialogs with strangers, and describtion of scenery and events, (some are pointlesly repeated: told from one and then the next narator point of view). The story moves ever so slow. Almost like the rest of the South. The supporting characters are interesting but muddle up the main story with their inner thoughts, (I supose it is meant to give more insight), but failing to devalope in depth. The view points jump from narator to narator so much its hard to orient one self as to where the story is now, who is talking, and what do they have to do with Billie (the main character).
The language used is the written version of the southren 1960 spoken "english" by the Black Minority and the White Trash Poor. So it is filled with what some would describe as gramar errors. I thought this was the only part of the reading that actually made the book authentic read.
Over all the book is overated, and runs on the Author's maximizing her reputation as a "Pulitzer Prize" winner. Final note though not a bad summer/entertaining reading, it is not this deep, insightful (nor is it particularly funny) book, as promissed by the author and the other reviews.
There are some interesting parts to the second half of the book, but over all, the book is sluggish with unecessay dialogs with strangers, and describtion of scenery and events, (some are pointlesly repeated: told from one and then the next narator point of view). The story moves ever so slow. Almost like the rest of the South. The supporting characters are interesting but muddle up the main story with their inner thoughts, (I supose it is meant to give more insight), but failing to devalope in depth. The view points jump from narator to narator so much its hard to orient one self as to where the story is now, who is talking, and what do they have to do with Billie (the main character).
The language used is the written version of the southren 1960 spoken "english" by the Black Minority and the White Trash Poor. So it is filled with what some would describe as gramar errors. I thought this was the only part of the reading that actually made the book authentic read.
Over all the book is overated, and runs on the Author's maximizing her reputation as a "Pulitzer Prize" winner. Final note though not a bad summer/entertaining reading, it is not this deep, insightful (nor is it particularly funny) book, as promissed by the author and the other reviews.
I'm very much hoping that more in the line of fiction stories is to come from this author. This little lady is one heck of an author. This story grabbed me from the first line and i loved the whole rest of the ride. It was fun to have her "talk" to me as this is how it is written, like she is talking to me. The story is wonderful, i enjoyed it tremendously. Billie Beede is gonna have a baby, she's already 5 months gone, Snipes is the one who "bigged" her and he acts like he hasn't noticed, he sells caskets and is a bit of a shyster. But when she brings the matter up he says he will marry Billie, after all he gave her $62.00 to buy a wedding dress and shoes and a ticket to meet him out of town. Don't matter none that they only have sex by the side of the road and she found red panties in the back seat of his bright lemon colored Ford Galaxie--those he claimed were his sisters!! Her momma was said to of been buried rich, so guess who is gonna go get mother's body? I liked being in 1960 again,...I liked it alot.
This was an interesting read, but I do not see myself re-reading it.
Pure literary genius! I'll keep this one for my library.
